WA Alterations & Additions Protocol
Published: 30 January 2012 / Amentdment 1
Why undertake this Local Practice Project?
As-Built Learning Exchange (ABLE) has undertaken several Local Practice Projects (see sidebar) to investigate design and construction issues related to the transition to the BCA 2012 Part 3.12 “6 star” Energy Efficiency provisions.
When undertaking these projects it became apparent that “6 star” compliance was likely to be difficult for alterations and additions (additions). If the Elemental Provision option is used, then it is likely that existing glazing limitations will result in the Glazing Calculator reporting non-compliance. If the House Energy Rating Software option is used, when a Kitchen is not included in the new work it cannot be assessed and, for whole-of-house (new and existing work) assessment, achieving a “6 star” outcome is likely to be very difficult and/or place an “unreasonable” compliance burden on the existing portion of the work.
This is why ABLE believed that a WA Additions & Alterations Protocol is needed.
A protocol is a State regulator ruling that describes how a BCA prescribed outcome is applied to nominated building work.
ABLE undertook this project to inform industry that “non-compliance” will occur, to investigate options for a local practice solution, and then to provide Building Commission with research that would support a WA Alterations & Additions Protocol.
Suggested WA Alterations & Additions Protocol (precis)
Outcomes from this project leave little doubt that there is a valid “special case” for providing additions with a reduced rating target.
Given that the 1 May adoption of BCA 2010 (6 star) is the date of Building Licence lodgement, if a solution is not immediately available, then the additions industry is likely to find that they have no practicable mechanism for demonstrating Part 3.12 compliance.
The following summarises what is suggested for a WA Alterations & Additions Protocol.
Compliance options
Compliance can be achieved by:
New work complying with 3.12.0 Application of Part 3.12, or
- Achieving a reduced whole-of-house rating when both new and existing work is upgraded.
Whole-of-house rating formula
A rating formula or graph would provide a sliding scale rating that would allow for:
Nominated ratings to increase as the percentage of new work increases.
Setting of a minimum new work threshold under which small additions would only need to achieve “reasonable” EP compliance.
Setting an upper level new work threshold at which point it would be “reasonable” for large additions to achieve 3.12.0 (6 star) compliance.
Setting separate adjusted star ratings to take account of existing work that was required to comply with earlier BCA Part 3.12 amendments.
Click the link below to download the full text report and supporting research data.
Building Professional Registration or Login Required
To download the file wa-alterations-additions-protocol-lpn-amendment-1.pdf you need to login to the As-Built Learning Exchange. If you are a Building Professional and you do not have login access, you will need to register.